Label for cotton-bales.



No. 886,086. PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

L T. F; STEELE.

LABEL FOR COTTON BALES. APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1907.

THOMAS F. STEELE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

LABEL FOR COTTON-BALES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

Application filed November 13, 1907. Serial No. 402,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. STEELE, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Labels for Cotton-Bales; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide simple and highly efficient means for securely affixing labels to baled goods, such as cotton, hemp and the like.

The invention is characterized in that a label, preferably of metal, is secured to either end of a bale by means of an anchor having at its inner end a barb or projection, extending at an angle therefrom, the anchor itself being in the form of a screw or spiral and inserted, in the case of baled cotton, preferably between the parallel layers. The barb together with the spirals make it impossible for the anchor to be accidentally withdrawn. Preferably the anchor is given its spiral or screw formation as it is being inserted into the bale.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a bale showing my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached view. Fig. 3 is a view of the tool employed for inserting the anchor. Fig. 4 shows the anchor wire in engagement with the tool.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a label, which is preferably composed of metal and formed at one end with an eye to accommodate the looped end of an anchor 2. This anchor is shown as composed of a wire bent back at its free end to form an. eye or loop 3, the end of which constitutes a barb or projection 4. The eye or loop is placed over the end of a tool 5 in the form of a handled screw or cork-screw, and caused to engage with a seat formed by a notch or recess 6 cut in the edge of the spiral near the pointedend thereof. Thereupon the end of the tool, with the wire in engagement therewith, is inserted into the bale and turned clock-wise. The wire, as the tool screws into the bale, will Wind around the spiral thereof and be itself formed into a screw or spiral. When the tool has been inserted the desired distance, it is turned in the reverse direction, leaving the now spirally-formed anchor wire within the bale, the eye or loop readily riding out of the notch 6. The resistance offered by the barb 4 and the continuous spiral of the anchor make it impossible for the latter to be accidentally withdrawn from the bale. The anchor is inserted sufficiently far to permit only a small fraction of its outer end to project from the bale, thus leaving the label firmly fixed in a position where it will be in sight and not liable to be accidentally removed. If desired, the end of the anchor may be wholly within the plane of the end of the bale, and the label connected thereto by a second wire or a cord. If, in handling the bales, it becomes necessary to remark them, as in transit from lanter to consumer, the label may be readil y changed by cutting off the outer loop of the anchor, and a new anchor with a new label aflixed thereto may be screwed into the bale.

The advantages of my invention are apparent. It is well known that heretofore considerable difficulty has been experienced in labeling or marking bales of cotton, it being necessary that such marking be capable of being easily read and always in the same place, and at the same time not likely to be lost in the event of the breaking of any of the retaining bands. My present invention overcomes all objections and meets all of the requirements insisted upon by planters and shippers.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a label, and an anchor therefor of spiral formation having means for prgventing it from being withdrawn from the 2. In combination, a label, and an anchor therefor of spiral formation having adjacent to its inner end a barb projecting at an acute angle therefrom.

3. A label for baled goods comprising, in combination, a label, and an anchor therefor consisting of a wire having a barb extending at an angle therefrom, and means for inserting such wire into a bale and forming it into a screw or spiral while being inserted.

4. A label for baled goods comprising, in combination, a label, and an anchor therefor consisting of a wire bent to form a loop and a specification in the presence of two subscribbarb projecting therefrom, and a spiral tool ing Witnesses.

having a seat adjacent to one end for accommodeting the loop, said tool forming such THOMAS 5 Wire into a screw or spiral as it is being in- \Vitnesses:

serted into the bale. C. M. SOHNEIDAU,

In testimony whereof I have signed this ROBT. B. DE Poss. 

